2020 has not been an easy year for anyone but particularly those of us with cystic fibrosis (CF). First off, we have to be very careful when we leave our homes not to contract a virus that puts us in greater jeopardy than virtually everyone else. Secondly, we have to make sure our normal symptoms are indeed caused by cystic fibrosis and not from COVID-19. I cannot tell you how many times I have had sinus issues or coughing problems over the last eight months when my first thought was that I had contracted COVID-19. And lastly, speaking of symptoms, we now have to concern ourselves with one of our primary ones when we are around others – the dreaded cough!
When I used to cough in close proximity to someone else, I could laugh it off and blame it on a cold or allergies. Now it’s not a funny matter. During this pandemic, it’s critical that people know that we are not fighting a virus that could put everyone around us in great peril. Maybe it’s time to explain that we have a disease that causes mucus to clog our lungs and it is not contagious. It’s time to explain about our cystic fibrosis.
Here is the silver lining though. What a great opportunity to bring more awareness to cystic fibrosis! Who knows if we could be introducing our disease to someone who could become the next great CF researcher or donor? I met famous comedian Lewis Black years ago and he told me he was outside of a CF event one day and asked about the event and the disease that was the center of the fundraising. Mr. Black had no connections to anyone with cystic fibrosis. When he learned about it, he soon became an advocate and now has become a huge national celebrity fundraiser for CF and has become one of the famous faces for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Also in my opinion by explaining it, it takes the elephant out of the room and it can be quite therapeutic. I have found that by talking about cystic fibrosis and giving people a glimpse into my journey that I feel better and I don’t have to hold in that dreaded cough anymore.
Having cystic fibrosis does not make any of us lesser people. If anything, it shows how amazing each of us is for fighting and winning this battle. Have pride in who you are and the battle you are fighting. It’s critical that today more than ever we reveal our secret identity to people around us. We are ass-kicking cystic fibrosis warriors!
Live your dreams and love your life!
Andy
Thanks Andy. You are a true Cf warrior as am I. It is really a struggle when people look at you when you’re coughing badly and then start talking and pointing but then we have to just look, stop and think that they dont understand what’s going on and we have to push on and continue to live our lives and remember we are warriors of pain and strength. Thank you for bringing sunshine to my day because I just got over a hospitalization from the past two weeks. But I am thankful I dont have Covid-19.
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